There were several Starlings in the leaf yard. Most of them spend their time at the Round Pond or in Hyde Park, but enough turn up here to make feeding the tits difficult. You don't want a Starling dive-bombing your hand with its painfully sharp beak. But they have wonderful iridescent plumage.
The Scaup is still in the park: Tony Duckett spotted him yesterday on the Serpentine, where he had gone to escape the ice on the Round Pond. I thought I saw him distantly on the Round Pond this morning, but when I hurried round to the other side I couldn't find him, so he could be anywhere now.
While I was looking for him, I was pursued round the pond by four Jackdaws, which are now getting very pushy and stand in front of you staring with their bright eyes until you feed them.
Two young Herring Gulls were chasing each other over the Serpentine.
On the Long Water, one of the Little Grebes was fishing under the dead willow tree near the Italian Garden. It came out from among the twigs for a brief moment before diving.
A flock of Long-Tailed Tits, with a few Blue Tits tagging along with them, swept through the trees north of the Orangery.
The pair of Coal Tits at the Rima relief are now coming out when they see me arriving, and calling to make sure that I notice and feed them.
The male Tawny Owl wasn't there when I first went by this morning, but fortunately came out later and started preening.
A delightful set of images today, Ralph. So much here to enjoy. The Little Grebe and the Woodpecker are perhaps my highlights - I have never seen either in real life. I did see a group of 6 slender moorhens at Savill Gardens yesterday though. They stuck together as a group, both on the grassy bank and in the water of the stream. Do you think they might be a brood of grown-up chicks from last year?
ReplyDeleteYes, Moorhen families stick together at least until the next breeding season. There is a family here in the Sunken Garden.
DeleteThanks Ralph. I am trying to learn as much as possible about the birds I see, as I think it increases my appreciation of them. I'm hoping to see Grebelets on Virginia Water this year - apparently they do breed there. I have never seen one, and it's my ambition to do so this year.
DeleteI too enjoy your photos , Ralph. I thought I heard a great spotted woodpecker drumming today in Syon Park. Am I wrong?
ReplyDeleteIt's quite possible, though very early. Might equally have been a Green Woodpeker, of course.
DeleteThanks Ralph. I later wondered if nest building might have been an explanation. Green woodpeckers are unusual here and I have not seen one locally for a year or two.
DeleteWe have a great spotted woodpecker in the park behind my house which takes great delight in pecking/drumming on a metal chimney cowl .
ReplyDeleteIt can be heard from quite some distance .
The gentlemen who lives there said the woody is is very fond of early Sunday morning for its very loud antics
Have never heard that. I suppose they look for the loudest thing they can find to drum on.
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